TOPIC:

I just joined this group and appreciate I am replying to a very old post. I recently came across a number of Sir Archibold Hunter's papers, which are held at the Uni of Durham - link below
reed.dur.ac.uk/xtf/view?docId=ark/32150_s1fx719m49t.xml

Within this was a report written by my Great Grandfather Herbert Kendall Jackson to Col Mahon, on an engagement on 16 May 1900 as part of the Relief of Mafeking. Capt Robinson is referenced, plus some other soldiers. The scanned document was quite hard to read, but I have managed to work out most of it, although some words/names may be a little out. I have copied it below in case anyone is interested

"CRA Report
To the Bde Major, Mafeking Relief Col
The following remarks are made on the artillery portion of the engagement on the 16 May 1900 as far as it came under my notice. Having unfortunately been in Hospital since we came in I have been unable to obtain any information from three CO’s of other Batteries than my own. The scene of the action being such an extended one it was impossible for one man to see very much. When the firing started at the advanced guard the 2 Vickers Maxim 1prs (pounders) under Capt Robinson RA, were ordered to advance to a position from which it was said that a view of the enemy could be obtained. Xx xxx ( name?) was sent more to the left & the Canadian Field Battery & BSA Guns remained on the right. The enemy brought 2 guns & a Pompom into action on the right. The guns were on a 9 pr Krupps near Israel’s Farm and a 14 pr quick firer on a ridge on the opposite side of the river – our guns were in action on the ridge to the left of the ruined village.
Finding nothing to be seen from where our Pompoms were in action I went over to our right to see if we could silence the enemy’s 2 guns which were firing into the convoy. Capt Llewellyn BSA P (police) brought his 12 ½ pr quick firer into action against the guns at Israel’s Farm & then Canadian Battery changing point to the right engaged the enemy’s guns on the opposite side of the river. Very soon after Major Hudan (?) had commenced firing & before he had time to get the range the order to advance was given. I then left this part of the field & saw no more of the Artillery of Coln Plumer’s force.
After advancing some distance M RHA under Capt DuPlat Taylor was brought into action against a quick fire gun with which the enemy opened fire against our left. This gun was very hard to locate & made very straight shooting against the battery but luckily only 2 out of the many shots it fired were effective, one burst under a gun & wounded Lt Gray & 3 out of 4 of the detachment, the other hit a lumber & blew the whole contents of one box out but did not xxx the man standing behind. The men behaved with great steadiness 2 out of the 3 were wounded remained firing their gun till the action was over. Their names are Corporal Cabisan & Bomb’ Goscombe. Reports having come in that the enemy were working round our left Capt Taylor was ordered to take 2 guns to that flank. Lt Courage remaining in action with his section in the original position. This position was not a satisfactory one the guns were under a very accurate though luckily harmless fire & were unable to get a proper view of the enemy, so Lt Courage asked permission to move. In the area which the enemy gun had been definitely located & Lt Courage was ordered to bring his guns to a position to the left of & a little in advance of his former one. From this new position besides the enemy’s gun, large parties of men & horses could be clearly seen & fire was at once opened on them with excellent results. The gun was withdrawn, some of the horses stampeded & the Boers almost immediately began to move off to the right. A movement which each shell hastened as it burst until in a short time none of the men were to be seen. About this time Col Plumer sent word that we were held by the enemy at Israel’s Farm & could not get on. Lt Courage was therefore ordered to move to the right front & endeavour to silence the enemy’s gun & pompom at the farm. The section came into action at a range of about 2800 yds & was soon after joined by Capt Taylor with the other 2 guns of the battery. The enemy’s gun was withdrawn after a few rounds had been fired but the pompom was never silenced. Capt Taylor reported having fired a few rounds at the part of the enemy that had gone round our left flank as they retreated.
I am unable to give any details of positions taken up or targets fired at by Capt Robinsons 2 Pompoms as I never happened to be near them all the afternoon. They were in the centre of the line between M RHA & Col Plumer’s artillery
HK Jackson Major RHA
CRA Mafeking Relief Force

Lt General Sir A Hunter
This report was written by Major Jackson when sick in hospital which accounts for it being in pencil
B Mahon Col of Relief Column"

Symes,

Thank you for adding to this thread with a very interesting account from Major Jackson.

Symes
Thank you very much for working through Maj. Jackson's report and posting it. I have been interested in the Mafeking relief for many years and have to say that Capt. Robinson's trio is one of my personal favourites. Oddly enough, over the Christmas break I took it out and re-read the portion of "With Seven Generals" covering the relief.
Thanks again!
Regards
IL.

Happy to share - I have a few more bits that I will dig out and post in future that may be of interest
Thanks
Nick

Nick,

Yes please!

Forum members interested in this topic:
Thanks to Smethwick finding that copy of The Sphere dated 21st July 1900, we now have a later group photograph showing of Capt. Robinson somewhat later in his active service career and showing the wear and tear of campaigning.
As an aside, there was an existing large remount establishment at Stellenbosch - where officers who failed to make the cut were posted for "other employment". However, there were other establishments in that area (for example the Pom Pom depot) and the area (according to Map 63 of Vol.4 from Maurice (OH) appears to have been a centre of railway and road junctions. Thus, not all officers posted to Stellenbosch would have warranted that term "Stellenbosched".

Captain later Major W.H. Robinson seated 4th from the left; Second Row.
Thanks again, Smethwick
Regards
IL.